Prison boss 'shame' over racism

The head of the Prison Service has spoken of his "shame and horror" today after a report unveiled a catalogue of racism in jails.

Phil Wheatley said he had agreed a major new action plan after a devastating investigation by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) which detailed 14 areas of failure in race relations.

Over a period of years covered by the report, there were repeated incidents of vile racist graffiti in jails.

In Brixton, south London, investigators said the graffiti "preserve wildlife, pickle a nigger" had been scrawled in staff toilets in 1998.

It was removed but appeared in another staff toilet two years later.

Letters from prisoners at HMP Parc, South Wales often carried the initials KKK and RVS (Rhondda Valley Skins).

'Little sign of stopping racism'

The CRE report said: "It would be hard to find more obscenely racist material.

"However, there was often little sign of a pro-active approach on the part of staff toward stopping racist behaviour."

Asked his reaction to today's report, Mr Wheatley said: "I felt as I read it there were some shameful things in there that as a Prison Service we should look at with horror.

"We should work hard to ensure that doesn't happen."

CRE Chairman Trevor Phillips said he had decided not to use the commission's ultimate power of issuing a Non-Discrimination Notice against the Prison Service, because they had committed themselves to delivering race equality through a new action plan.

The commission will, however be able to issue a notice during the next five years if the Prison Service fails to significantly improve.

"What's most shocking about this report is that, despite numerous wake up calls, Prison Service managers persistently failed to tackle racism in their institutions and that very often they also failed to implement their own qualities on racial discrimination, abuse and harassment," said Mr Phillips.